2014 Chevrolet Malibu 2LT Review by Carey Russ

The 2014 Malibu is Chevrolet's best entry yet
into the popular midsize family sedan class

Midsize sedans are immensely popular, but it's been a while since any
from Chevrolet have made much of an impression in the marketplace.
Chevrolet would like to change that, and to that end its midsize Malibu
gets a makeover for 2014. Styling has been updated to the latest Chevy
lines, as first seen on the current Impala. Inside, there's a new look, a
bit more room, especially in the rear seat, and electronic upgrades. The
new standard engine has automatic stop/start technology to improve fuel
economy in city driving, and the optional turbo unit is one of the most
powerful in its class.

2014 Chevrolet Malibu

The LS trim level is the entry, but still well-equipped with driver's
seat cushion height adjustment, audio and cruise controls on the steering
wheel, ten airbags, a driver information display, and more. 1LT adds
ambient lighting, heated outside mirrors, and other interior and exterior
upgrades. 2LT means an eight-way power driver's seat, dual-zone automatic
climate control, remote start, and the availability of more upscale
options. 3LT means 2LT with the turbo engine. 1LTZ is a 2LT with many
options made standard, while 2LTZ means that with turbo.

No V6? The standard 2.5-liter ECOTECŪ engine is a twincam four-cylinder
with 196 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, as much as a V6 of not so long
ago. Stop/start technology means that, as in hybrids, the engine may stop
when the car sits in traffic, as at a stoplight. Remove foot from brake
pedal, engine restarts. Mechanical refinements, including torque-reaction
engine mounts, ensure that it's smooth and unobtrusive. Want more? The
2.0-liter turbo makes 259 hp and a healthy 295 lb-ft. You won't miss a V6
there, either…

2014 Chevrolet Malibu

My test car for the past week has been a Malibu in 2LT trim, with key
options including the Advanced Safety Package of Forward Collision Alert,
Lane Departure Warning, and Side Blind Zone Alert with Rear Cross Traffic
Alert systems, the Electronics and Entertainment's PioneerŪ audio system,
rearview camera, and other useful items, MyLink Radio With Navigation
(further audio upgrade and nav system), and leather seating. So equipped,
it was far more than an average midsize sedan, but still below $30,000, if
barely. On the road, it felt at least as European as American -- I have to
wonder how close the chassis tuning is to the equivalent Opel -- and the
drivetrain was far more than merely adequate for any task at hand. Not long
ago, GM's mid-level cars could be less than stellar in interior fit and
finish levels, with wide and sometimes inconsistent panel gaps. Not here --
this Malibu was as good as anything in its class, even in places you're not
expected to look at. Want to see who's cutting corners where? Check out the
rear seat and trunk areas. They're fine here. Add good performance,
reasonable fuel economy -- about 24 mpg for my week, with mostly short
trips on surface streets -- and a spacious and comfortable interior, and
the Malibu is Chevrolet's best entry into the heart of the midsize sedan
category in many years.

APPEARANCE: Welcome the new face of Chevrolet. It's not radically
different from what came before, but the multilayered front grille is
distinctive, and the conservatively-sculpted lines should wear well.
Judicious use of chrome trim, around the grille and foglamps in front and
around the windows on the sides -- and door handles, depending on trim
level, adds brightness and a luxury looks without ostentation. It's
muscular in a healthy way, and a bit sporty without being in any way a
sports sedan, which should please its customer base.

COMFORT: Inside, the latest Malibu is a pleasant and comfy place in
which to spend time. As mentioned, fit and finish and materials are very
good, and the "twin cockpit" design works well. It's functional and
stylish, with brightly-backlit main instruments and, with the MyLink and
Navigation package, a large touchscreen in the center stack. Matte-finished
trim around the instruments and tach and on the steering wheel adds
brightness without distracting glare. The Driver Information System
displays mileage and distance information between the tach and speedometer.
With the nav system, directions are also conveniently displayed there. All
systems operate logically and simply. The upscale Pioneer audio system has
AM, FM, and SiriusXM radio capability, plays CDs, and accepts input from
USB and jack inputs. There's a bit of storage behind the nav screen, plus a
lit glove box, and storage and bottle holders in the door panels. Besides
the usual cupholders in the console, there are two small slots that are
meant for phones -- and if proper Bluetooth connections and service
packages are in place, streaming audio is possible.

Front seat comfort is good, as is rear. Redesigned front seatbacks add
rear knee room with no detriment to front room or comfort. The rear
seatback folds 60/40 for oversized cargo, but the trunk is large enough
that won't be a common problem. A space-saver spare tire and battery access
are found under the trunk floor.

RIDE AND HANDLING: If I was led, blindfolded into a new Malibu and
driven down the road, I'd more likely think the car was European than
American. Its fully-independent MacPherson strut front, multilink rear
suspension is tuned for comfort, but that no longer means that it's
excessively soft, with poor damping leading to wallowing oscillations. Not
at all - struts with internal rebound springs, originally only for the
turbo models, have found their way into all Malibus now. Road
irregularities are dealt with and forgotten. As in many cars, the steering
is electrically-assisted. That often feels numb and more like a video game
controller than a car. Not here. Variable assist means easy parking, and
actual road feel at speed.

2014 Chevrolet Malibu

PERFORMANCE: With maximum 196 horsepower (at 6300 rpm) and 186 lb-ft of
torque (at 4400 rpm) and a six-speed automatic transmission, the Malibu's
standard 2.5-liter engine works well with the car's 3500-pound weight. A
lightweight aluminum alloy design with dual overhead camshafts, variable
phasing on both camshafts and variable lift for the intake valves plus
direct fuel injection and a high 11.3:1 compression ratio makes for good
power output and a broad torque curve for easy drivability. It runs on
regular unleaded. Automatic engine stop/start has been implemented to
improve city mileage by turning the engine off when waiting at stoplights
and in similar situations where otherwise the car would be getting zero
mpg. The system monitors car speed, climate system use, and other factors
to determine if shutting the engine off is worthwhile, and, if so, restarts
when the driver releases the brake pedal or after two minutes. It may not
go into stop/start mode when crawling in stop-and-go traffic, a Good Thing
for starter longevity and the driver's ability to move quickly if needed.
The only transmission offered is a six-speed automatic. It's tuned for
economy, so may stay is a higher gear than you might consider optimal when
climbing hills. It shifts smoothly and quickly, and manual control is
readily available by means of a rocker switch on the top of the shift
lever. EPA mileage estimates are 25 city and 36 highway. During a short
week with much city driving and minimal highway travel I got a 25 mpg
average. The stop/start system is unobtrusive, and never jarring.

CONCLUSIONS: With the 2014 Malibu, Chevrolet has its best entry yet into
the popular midsize family sedan class.

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